Category Archives: AAA

Cici got to travel on a Tiki tour boat and see/hear the sea otters, seals and seal lions in Morro Bay. She kept looking around and sniffing for fish.

And we met a chi-wow-wow named Lillie who out-diva’d my polka dot princess. Seriously this tiny pup has x-ray eyes, follows her guardian man Leslie wherever he goes and does not stop shaking until he comes back to her. Then she sat on my chest and went into Zen meditation mode. What a cutie, am missing her already. (me and Lillie and her dad Leslie at Thomas Organics restaurant in Paso Robles).

Emma, some kind of heeler, herder puppy, two years old, with a black eye, Cici and Emma had some fun together playing, jawing, wrestling, running around on the beach.

April, an adorable Beagle mix, also white but with some brindle/brown markings. Cici and April chased one another, too. Here are most of the dogs walking with Robyn.

Zoe, the Saluki, kind of kept to herself (I think she is kind of scared of other dogs) and she is a lapdog.

and Demi (who I keep wanting to call Murphy), a Heinz 57 type of gal with her mom Deb at the Ecluse Winery (Deb took all of these photos except the Saluki).

can you imagine a more diverse group of dogs???

All of the dogs are female and they and their owners/guardians and I went on a press trip (very intense) for three days and two nights to San Luis Obispo county (seven cities in three days)… whew !!! (Cambria, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles). www.visitSanLuisObispoCounty.com

will be writing more about the FUN we had and the dog friendly places we met along the way in future blog posts including one for Mama’s Day which is coming up May 12.

All of the dogs also got to meet some white Labs and a blind dog named Toby at the Ecluse winery in Paso Robles.

A great time was had by ALL…lots of divine food, wine and treats and s’mores at Grover Beach…

well except for one day… every dog has her day…

Cici’s terrible horrible no good very bad day…

well, you know that Cici has three nemesis, right…

1. cats

2. bull dogs

3. skateboards (and scooters)

all three of the above make her freak out… bark and act like she is having a canine melt down…

New Year’s Eve is almost here. No matter what your plans are, have you made plans for or with your pets/dogs? Cici and I will spend New Year’s Eve inside. And many people opt to stay home and have a party with a few friends. If you go out or stay inside, here are a few tips to keep the furry ones safe.

1. If you are going out for the evening, make sure that your pets are safe and secure inside the house. Perhaps hiring a pet sitter or boarding your pet is a good option, to keep your pets safe. There may be fireworks and loud noises that will frighten your dog. The last thing you want is for your dog to run away.

2. Be sure your dog has her collar and current tags on with all of your pertinent info, phone numbers, etc. Even if your dog is microchipped, having this info on the tag/collar will help if someone finds your dog away from home.

3. Have a few pictures of each of your pets in different poses and settings to ensure that you’ll be reunited with a lost pet. You probably have a lot of photos of your pets either around your home or floating around in your digital camera.

4. Don’t drink and drive and do not give your pets any booze. Alcohol can be toxic to dogs. Party snacks like chocolates, raisins, grapes, and more should stay out of reach, too. If you have guests over for the evening, keep your dog safely away from unsupervised drinks and snacks.

Help your human guests stay safe by following these tips:

Ensure that all guests have a ride to and from their destination in a car driven by a non-drinking designated driver

Plan activities that take the focus away from drinking, and make non-alcoholic beverages including water readily available

Serve high-protein snacks to slow down alcohol absorption

Stop serving alcohol at least 90 minutes before a party ends, and serve guests coffee or dessert

Take car keys from intoxicated guests who plan to drive home.

Be prepared to let your guests stay the night as an alternative to them driving home after drinking.

AAA offers free rides for the intoxicated. Tipsy Tow service provides a complimentary ride and vehicle tow up to three miles from the point of pickup to drivers who have consumed alcohol on New Year’s Eve. Tipsy Tow service is available to members and non-members. Ask for a Tipsy Tow by calling 1-800-AAA-HELP (222-4357)

5. Keep your pet in a separate room during the evening. Provide water, toys, a comfortable bed and litter for cats. Leave a television, soothing music or radio on to block out frightening noises. Not only will this keep your pet safely in the house, but will also help reduce his or her stress throughout the evening.

6. Do you know how your pets respond to loud noises? Noisemakers, champagne corks and more can be dangerous for children and pets, especially if they shoot across the room or break into pieces. Keep children and pets away from these and also from fireworks.

7. Party decorations such as balloons, streamers, party hats or confetti are not good for your dog’s digestive system. Keep pets in a separate room so they do not have access to the decorations. If they do swallow something, consult a veterinarian immediately.

8. Might be a good idea to tucker your dog out with a long walk or exercise session before the partying begins.

9. If your dog is invited to a dog party or event for New Year’s, or you decide to invite a few doggie pals over to your house, make sure that all of the dogs are safe by providing healthy dog treats, lots of water, toys and games for them to play. Keep it short and fun and end it way before midnight.

Help your pet ring in the New Year with you by ensuring that he or she has a comfortable and safe evening.

Tomorrow we will highlight a few doggie items for bringing in the New Year with style. Stay tuned.

This Thanksgiving, 42.5 million people are expected to hit the road to visit family and friends, according to AAA. You can visit our Pet Travel Tips page for an overview of the way that Cici and I roll. And want ideas about where to go, be sure to visit our Free Guide to Pet Friendly Cities (places we’ve visited and recommend). But here are a few more fun pet travel tips for pet owners traveling with their dogs this holiday season.

Cici and I suggest:

If you travel frequently with your pet, you may want to put towels, seat covers and/or sheets over the car seats to stop the fur from flying all over the place. Bergan’s travel seat protectors can help. I’ve also seen dog seats (like car seats for kids) that you can get although we’ve never tried any of them.

It’s also a good idea to bring pet food in a plastic storage bin to keep food fresh. And I always carry a pet travel bag for Cici filled with her items (toys, treats, green first aid kit including Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy, aromatherapy oils such as Lavendar and more). And if you are into hiking with your dog, there are backpacks for dogs to carry their own weight.

Adding a small amount of dried ginger or ginger tea to a light meal before you depart can be beneficial for pets who are prone to sickness in the car. Some dogs do better if they fast right before hitting the road.

I have three dogs…90 lb, 75 lb and a 40lb that travel three times a year

between Minneapolis and Denver with me . I do several things:

1. they all wear their seatbelts which attach to their harnesses, and to

the actual seatbelt. Without those, they’d be all over the place.

2. We listen to either classical music or Through a Dogs Ear music. Both

really settle them down and lull them to sleep.

3. We stop at dog friendly parks where there is a gated area and they can

RUN. Just walking them on the leash doesn’t cut it.

4. When it’s dark, they just go to sleep. But if I’m trying to do it in a

day I use Happy Traveler, which is an herbal mixture my vet recommended.

That also keeps them very relaxed. (it’s chamomile, hops, etc)

5. I don’t give them rawhides or too many treats. Driving makes them very

Cici and I had fun driving around for two years… these are a few things that kept us safe and sane. With Memorial Day weekend coming up, these tips are helpful for holidays and can also be good for summer travel with your pooches.

l. Comfy and cozy and restrained. I had Cici all set up in the back seat with her own blankets and bedding, toys and bones to chew on. Familiar stuff. She could stretch out and snooze while I drove. Or gnaw on bones. Whatever she felt like doing was ok with me because she was out of the way. No coming up into the front of the car or sitting beside me. I did not strap her in but now have a harness for her that attaches to the seat belt which I will use when/if we go on another road trip. We have been invited back east in June, not sure yet if we will go.

2. Speaking dog language. I sing songs to her, making them up as I go along. She has learned that when I sing the beach song that means we are going to the beach and she perks up. Or when I sing the doggie park song, she’ll be ready to play with doggie pals. One of the sweetest sounds is the yum yum song, meaning we’re gonna go eat some food. Salivation.

3. Give me a potty break. I take frequent breaks/stops along the way to our destinations and often times intentionally stop at places I know that she will enjoy, if possible. Beaches, dog parks, pet friendly wineries as well as shopping malls and pet stores. When we have the time to do this, it definitely breaks up the monotony of the road and makes the traveling easier and more fun.

4. Time and traffic. We usually were not in a rush to get anywhere, so our time schedule was flexible. If we had to be somewhere at a certain time, I’d leave more than enough time to get there. When traveling on a holiday weekend, go a day or two ahead if you can or a day or two later to avoid the rush hour traffic. Same with summer travel. Be aware of times when traffic gets jammed up and take a different route, if possible.

6. Maps and driving directions. Keep in glove compartment. I am not always good about this. I know the general direction or city/place and then get there and not know where to go and have to search online or on my computer. Keep phone numbers and addresses handy, too. If you have a cell phone/I-phone, probably makes this easier. I have yet to succumb to the 21st century on this one but if you are traveling alone, especially in desolate areas such as the desert, having a cell phone is a good idea. Hopefully, there is a connection/dial tone when you need to use it.

7. Be a good guest. Bring your best manners with you. And pet waste bags. If renting a car, cover the seats with sheets and keep your pooch in a crate or harnessed to a dog bed in the back seat. Let the fur fly somewhere else than in the rental car or you might have to pay a hefty fee. Also, be sure of the rental car company’s pet policy before you get to the rental counter. At the pet friendly inn, hotel, motel, B&B or campground, find out ahead of time their do’s and don’ts, nearby places to visit including restaurants where you can take your pooch and fun dog friendly activities in the area.

8. Be considerate. Not everyone loves dogs and some people are afraid of dogs. And they don’t have to nor do some like pit bulls and other big dogs. And they do not have to either. Of course, rude comments, aggressive behavior and insults are not acceptable and discrimination is unwarranted. But if your dog is well behaved, does not run up to strangers, knock babies over, lick kid’s ice cream cones, bark or yap incessantly, share fur and drool everywhere or jump up on tables, people and furniture, a better time will be had for all. Make sure your fur baby is a good ambassador for the breed and species.

9. Accidents may happen. Bring your vet’s phone number, medical records, ID tags, photos of your pet and other info with you, just in case. Also any medications and a pet first aid kit (like the green one we suggested).

10. One is the loneliest number. Dogs do not like to be left alone in a hotel room, strange places or even in the familiar confines of your car. Do not ever leave your four legged friend unattended in a parked vehicle. On warm days, the temperature in your vehicle is unbearable, 120 degrees, even with the windows slightly open. In addition, your pet could be taken away by unscrupulous pet thieves looking to make a quick buck.

11. Does your Dog Have a License? If you and your dog are going to share the driving, be sure that they have their Pet’s Driver’s License. Kidding but Cici does now have her Pet Driver’s License, with all her ID listed on it plus a photo of her on it. Between this, her collar ID tag, microchip registered, she is all set to get up and go. Cannot wait for someone to ask for my driver’s license, I will definitely show them hers.

a pit bully story with a happy ending, yay! since today is national pet safety day, seems like you should know about how to safely travel with your pit bull… (also check out this post about a wonderful pet travel package including a harness, a must have for traveling with dogs).

Michelle Sathe, a features writer for the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, a Southern California, newspaper, decided that she would take a road trip to raise awareness about pit bulls and adoption issues with a homeless pit bully named Loren for her 40th birthday. She had been caring for Loren as a volunteer at a no kill shelter, the Brittany Foundation. Together, she and Loren drove to the east coast (29 states) and back in 50 days! a remarkable feat in and of itself…

some of the places they went to were downright scary, others inspiring. The people they met, the same. But through it all, Loren was a sweet, calm, loving girl…

Their journey reminded me a lot of mine with Cici. How people responded to Loren and how Loren kissed/licked back, showing off her belly, too.

There is some kvetching/complaining at times when the road gets too long and the journey too deep and lots of food to comfort. At the end of the book is a resource directory of pit bull rescue organizations and other pertinent info.

* the Stanford Inn was the first in the area to offer pet friendly lodging before it was popular and their zenlike property is memorable, as is their pet friendly dining with superb award-winning vegan cuisine

* offer amenities such as WIFI and phone so that guests who want to stay connected can and those that don’t do not have to take advantage of the service

* offer complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea and cookie… the Sea Foam Lodge delivers piping hot muffins to each guest’s door, a breakfast to remember… the Doubletree Hotel in Rohnert Park and other locations that provides guests with fresh hot baked cookies daily and complimentary wine and cheese in the afternoon

* have pet friendly and knowledgable staff available (concierge, front desk) to answer questions, arrange tours and make suggestions

* stand out, be distinct, give us something to write home and tell our friends and associates about

Don’ts

* please don’t discriminate against certain breeds and sizes of dogs

* why nickel and dime visitors to death with extra charges for phone calls, tempting treats and foods in the fridge, and charges for other amenities, if you charge $200+ a night?

* make us wait forever to get into the room and rush us out of the room in the morning

* housekeeping is important and necessary and so is landscaping but please have staff be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible, no one wants to listen to lawnmowers all afternoon. you want us to enjoy our stay, right?

Remember, if your guests have a choice between staying at a clean fresh modern motel with internet access in the room, free phone calls that serves breakfast with lots of options (eggs, cereal, muffins, bagels, english muffins, and toast) for $50 a night or paying $100-250+ a night at your inn with no internet access, no phone and no breakfast, why do you think they would choose your inn even if they can afford to do so just because your inn is located in a popular destination, was successful in the past, is historic or?

I was strolling through the Internet one day and lo and behold I found this blog… about dogs and cars… what a great idea… and filled with great tips and info about traveling with dogs in cars… what cars are the best, how to travel with a Great Dane, fuel friendly cars, police cars in living color and much much more…

so I reached out and emailed and voila… a pet connection was made🙂

next time you want to know about the best car to drive your puppy around in, go visit dogcars.com and tell them CeliaSue and Cici sent you !

NewsHound and Dog Travel Expert

Welcome! I'm CeliaSue, a creative California-based freelance writer who wants to help you travel with your pets and enjoy the ride. I provide reliable travel info for California, and the Southwest USA (occasionally the rest of the country), plus lifestyle inspiration about being a doggie mama on the road with a spoiled yet friendly polka dot princess named Cici. I also write about romance, eco friendly, spiritual, healthy and luxury travel for various publications.

prmatchmaker at yahoo.com

Campers for Seniors

want more polka dots ? Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and and get FREE list of pet friendly wineries in California, DOUBLE DOG DARE YA & new posts by email.

Join 298 other followers

CeliaSue Hecht is a third-generation American, originally from New York. She has lived much of her adult life in California and Nevada and is a doggie mama and chocoholic plus a proponent of tiny homes and alternative energy and medicine. In the 70’s and 90’s, she taught personal growth workshops and seminars in Los Angeles and Munich, Germany. In the late 1980’s, she traveled around the world for three years with an international, interfaith, interdenominational, intercessory prayer ministry (Bangladesh, Canada, England, France, Germany, Holland, India, Israel, Singapore, Thailand). She has worked with people with AIDS, fibromyalgia, cancer, people without homes, Holocaust survivors, as well as written about diverse topics such as women’s topics, activism against the Yucca Mountain project in Nevada, alternative health and therapies and travel pieces in numerous magazines and newspapers. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin. Co-author of five romantic travel guides. Go to Paypal and buy CeliaSue a romantic comedy to read on the beach while munching on a chocolate bar.

Dogs do not care if you are rich or poor, fat or thin, fashionable or wear holy jeans. they like you, wag their tails at you and lick you if you let them. Dogs just want to have fun, love … Continue reading →

my Cici can be pretty picky about her cookies. especially healthy ones. a month or so ago, we were at a fair nearby Whole Foods and a local gal had a table. She baked her own dog biscuits and was … Continue reading →

I once had a crazy dog. He was male and our neighbor’s dog was his best buddy pal. On Friday nights usually we would visit and drink wine, the women, and the doggies would play together. Often, the two male dogs would … Continue reading →

500 women over the age of 50 on the monterey bay peninsula are experiencing what I have as well as people across the country have been writing to me telling me their stories. Cici and I are overwhelmed with gratitude for … Continue reading →

California has now made it legal for people to break car windows in order to break a dog out of a hot car. “As of August 2016, Vermont joined forces with Tennessee, Florida, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio in passing laws … Continue reading →